Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-02-12
A FIERCE STRUGGLE.
Tho Fighting Square at Abu Klea, Where
Heroic Burnaby Fell.

heroic
AT it we went; the square was closed.
must acknowledge that our men were
aow mad. We all felt that we must
fight for our lives. Retreat was not to
be thought Of; if we did So where
could we retreat to, cut off as we were
from all support? If we did not win
the day we must leave our bones in the
desert. The temper of our men
mounted to the boiling pitch. Each
man felt as if he must put forth the
power of Il giant, and as a conse-
quence the butchery was terrible--none
dared to finch. Thus every man in
the square had to do his duty, for while
the inside rescmbled a volcano in act
i've eruption, the outside or kneeling
ranks had enough to do to keep the
other Arabs al respectful distance.
The fighting was literally back to back.
Stabbing and gashing their horses,
which were jammed in mass, we
quickly brought them to the ground,
riders and all, when the latter were
quickly dispatched by dozens of bayo-
nets at once. The Arabs, being packed
SO tightly together, could neither use
their lances nor WELD their scimitars
without slashing each other, while we
did not cease our lunging as long as
one breathed. At last they were wiped
out, and again we faced outward and
reopened fire, our weapons meanwhile
dripping. Five times the enemy
charged us with frantic cries and wav-
ing banners, and as many times we
poured in the murderous volleys-no
shots wasted.
it was during one Of these charges
that Colonel Burnaby, impatient at the
restraint imposed on him, pushed his
horse through the ranks Of the rear
face, and singing out an cmir who was
making himself disagreeably promi-
nent made Il thrust at him, but was
rather short; the emir thrust in return
with his lance, but Burnaby, with a
sneer on his face, parried it easily.
Two or three Arabs took hand, but
he disposed of them similarly. 1t was
evident that he now intended TO aston
ish them with his magnificent sword
manship, as he gathered up his reins
and tightened his grip on his saber.
But at this iuncture another rush was
made, the Arabs surged around him.
and before he could turn an Arat
thrust at him from behind, piercing hi:
iugular vein. He recled in the saddle
and fell, but springing to his feet dy
ing though he was, he delivered on,
tremendous cut at some dismounteC
Arabs nearest him with itth terribl,
effect as to sever the heads from tn,
shoulders of two of them. As h,
dropped the Arabs closed in to mutilat,
him, but a dozen men sprang from th
square and tore his body from them
All this happened so quickly as to be
wilder taSe ,aototors ~
1t might be asked why it was tha
the men of the square did not shoe
those to whom he was opposed Their
are two answers: One was that OWN.
to the velocity of his movements the,
We're afraid of shooting him while aim
ING at his adyerSarics; the other wa
that those who knew him had such con
tidence in his ability that they did no
like to rob him Of his game, neve
thinking for Il moment that the affa
would terminate as it did. Meanwhile
the battle ragged, the cnonS came OF
like the waves, not to be driven back
but To be beaten to the earth. Horses anC
men, they were piled in mounds; il
fact, the great number of their dca,
and wounded interfercd with thci
movements, while the slightest della,
on their part insured certain death, anC
it was now noticed from their heSita
ton that they had lost heart As the,
came on for the last time. the front o
their advance consisting entirely o
whitc-lobcd cmrS and shcikhS shout
ing, waving their banners and pointing
at Us, all our machine guns opened ;
searching fire, supplemented by hanC
clap volleys from the Martini-Henrys
and when the smoke lifted not a liv,
Arab was. TO be seen within tiv,
thousand yards - they We're al
stretched. | fear no contradiction
when venture to say that never sine,
Agincourt, not even at Inkermann 9th,
soldiers battle), has the British fore,
fought so terrible hand-to-hand bat
tle.-COr. Boston Commercial Bulletin